Chris Pratt Wants James Gunn Back for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4

Chris Pratt has made it clear that he would welcome another trip through the Marvel Cinematic Universe with James Gunn behind the camera. Following Gunn's announcement that he is leaving DC Studios, Pratt discussed the possibility of a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4 reunion and said he would be enthusiastic about working with the director again.

Pratt, who has played Peter Quill, better known as Star-Lord, for more than a decade, addressed the prospect in an interview with Moviezine. The actor did not reveal that a new Guardians movie is in development, nor did he suggest Gunn is attached to one. Instead, his comments reflect a personal hope that the creative partnership responsible for the trilogy could one day resume.

"That would be awesome. I love working with James. He's the man," Pratt said, adding that he had not yet spoken with Gunn after news of his DC Studios exit emerged.

The prospect is naturally an intriguing one for Marvel fans. Gunn directed all three Guardians of the Galaxy films, shaping a corner of the MCU that became known for its unconventional soundtrack choices, emotional character arcs, cosmic settings, and a found-family ensemble that grew far beyond its initially obscure comic-book origins. His relationship with the franchise is unusual in modern blockbuster filmmaking: one director remained in charge for a complete trilogy while maintaining a consistent voice from beginning to end.

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A Trilogy That Reached a Deliberate Ending

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, released in 2023, was presented as a major turning point for the team. The film brought Gunn's three-movie arc to a close and gave several central characters definitive emotional resolutions. Rocket's history and recovery were placed at the heart of the story, while Peter Quill chose to return to Earth and reconnect with his grandfather. Gamora continued on a path separate from the version of the character Peter had loved, and the Guardians themselves were reconfigured rather than simply disbanded.

That conclusion is a key reason a fourth installment is not as straightforward as simply assembling the old team for another mission. The ending left behind a new version of the Guardians, including Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam Warlock, and Phyla. At the same time, it deliberately left room for familiar characters to return in different capacities.

The film's closing text specifically promised that "The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return," a message that has kept speculation alive even without a formal announcement for another solo Star-Lord film or a fourth Guardians entry. Pratt has also continued to speak positively about revisiting the role.

In January 2026, Pratt said he had a "really strong vision" for bringing Star-Lord back to future MCU stories. More recently, in October, he said plans for the character's return were being worked on at Marvel Studios. Those remarks indicate interest in Peter Quill's future, but they do not establish what form that return will take. A supporting role in an ensemble event, a Star-Lord-focused project, or another Guardians adventure would all be distinct possibilities.

Why Gunn's Availability Has Renewed Speculation

Gunn moved from Marvel to a leadership role at DC Studios in 2022, running the film side of the DC operation alongside Peter Safran. His time directing Marvel's Guardians films had already included considerable behind-the-scenes turmoil before that transition, including his temporary removal from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and later reinstatement.

With Gunn now no longer running DC movies with Safran, fans have begun asking where his filmmaking career may lead next. At present, there is no confirmation that he will direct another Marvel film or return to the Guardians universe. His known work still includes Man of Tomorrow and one additional, undisclosed DC project, while much of his longer-term schedule remains uncertain.

Pratt emphasized how unusual Gunn's three-film run was when explaining why he would be eager to reunite. "He directed all three," Pratt said. "That's pretty rare in those types of trilogies, to have the same director through all three."

That continuity mattered to the Guardians films. Gunn was not only directing action scenes or overseeing visual spectacle; he was central to the musical identity, screenplay construction, casting chemistry, and tonal balance that separated the series from other superhero franchises. A hypothetical fourth movie without him could certainly work with another filmmaker, as large shared universes regularly change creative teams. But a Gunn return would carry a particular emotional and stylistic weight for audiences attached to the original trilogy.

The Guardians May Return Before a Fourth Movie Exists

Even if Marvel does not immediately pursue Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4, the franchise's characters can still appear elsewhere. The MCU has frequently used crossover films to bring together heroes whose individual series are between installments. With the universe building toward another Avengers event, that route may be especially likely.

Avengers: Secret Wars is currently expected next year, making it a plausible setting for Star-Lord, members of the re-formed Guardians, or both to re-enter the larger MCU narrative. Nothing has been confirmed regarding their participation, however. Marvel's multiverse-era projects have kept many character futures under wraps, and no cast list should be assumed until it is formally announced.

There is also the question of which Guardians audiences would want to see. Pratt's Peter Quill remains one of the MCU's most recognizable heroes, but the conclusion of Vol. 3 made clear that his story is no longer inseparable from the group. The new team has its own potential, while characters such as Nebula, Drax, Mantis, and Gamora each finished the third film in very different places.

Zoe Saldaña, who played Gamora across the MCU, previously said in 2024 that leaving the spacefaring heroes behind would be "a huge loss." That sentiment reflects the lasting affection many of the cast members have expressed for the franchise, even as its third chapter was designed to provide closure.

Marvel Has Not Announced Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4

For now, Pratt's comments should be viewed as enthusiasm rather than a production update. There is no announced release date, director, cast, story, or production timeline for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4. Gunn has not indicated that he is returning to Marvel, and Marvel Studios has not publicly confirmed a new Guardians feature.

Still, the idea has obvious appeal. Gunn's original trilogy ended with a satisfying sense of completion, yet it also left enough narrative space for the Guardians brand and Star-Lord himself to continue. Pratt is clearly open to that future, particularly if it includes the filmmaker who guided the group from its MCU introduction through its farewell chapter.

"If he wanted to come back and bring it back, man," Pratt said, "I would love that."

Until Marvel reveals its post-Avengers: Doomsday plans, the future of Star-Lord and the Guardians remains uncertain. But with Pratt publicly interested, the team still present in the MCU, and Gunn's next chapter no longer fully defined, fans have a fresh reason to imagine one more unlikely cosmic mixtape adventure.